A Fort Myers developer hopes to build 1,000 homes clustered around three lakes on 3,560-acres south of Alico Road east of Interstate 75 in in the region's groundwater recharge area.

The Private Equity Group on Friday filed an amended environmental resource permit, the last in a stack of required permit applications, with the South Florida Water Management District. The project, called WildBlue, is on land also widely known as the Ginn property after former owner Bobby Ginn, who lost the land to foreclosure in 2010.

The property has an existing environmental resource permit, two Lee County development orders and two water use permits.

However, the latest proposal would triple the number of homes proposed for the land while increasing the amount of conservation land, eliminating a contentious golf course, restoring two sloughs and donating 488 acres including a lake to Lee County for a regional park.

All of the land is in the density reduction groundwater resource area.

"This demonstrates a balance between the environment and a minimal amount of development," said Don Schrotenboer, president of real estate for the Private Equity Group. "We feel we will improve on the goals and objectives for the DRGR."

The plans call for the company to spend about $10 million to eradicate exotic species such as melaleuca and Brazilian pepper, which have taken hold on the land in the wake of decades of rock mining on the land.

WildBlue development(Photo: The News-Press)

Five mining roads on the property, which block the flow of the Stewart Cypress Slough and a second unnamed slough on the land, would be replaced by a single entrance road that would allow surface water to drain under it, Schrotenboer said.

Schrotenboer said his company has been working with environmental groups, including regulators like Army Corps of Engineers and advocates like the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, as it developed the plans.

The effort shows, said Jennifer Hecker, director of natural resource policy for the Conservancy.

"The Conservancy is not particularly concerned about the density issue in light of all of the efforts being made to reduce the environmental impact," Hecker said. "We are very pleased with the changes that have been made to the development plans and they will certainly lessen the impact on that property."

The location of the single-family homes has also been adjusted to allow for wider wildlife corridors through the property, which is in Florida panther territory, Hecker said.

Trudi Williams, a former state representative and former member of the South Florida Water Management District Board of Governors, said she has reviewed the plans.

"I was really, really impressed," Williams said. "I was most impressed by the restoration of the flowways. I don't think anyone has done anything like that in 50 years."

Schrotenboer said the proposal is unique because the property is unique.

"There is really nothing to compare it to," he said.

He said the development plans also call for a small neighborhood retail center on the southern edge off Corkscrew Road and a 140-acre farm field on the property will be used to grow native trees to replant on the property. Then at least some of the space will include a community garden.

In February, Private Equity announced plans to build an 886-acre "university village" with homes, shops, a hotel and parks just west of the WildBlue location.

That property, called CenterPlace, would include 1,950 multifamily residential units, a 250-room hotel and conference center, 170 acres of parks and open spaces as well as shops and offices. The plan includes setting aside 40 acres for use by FGCU.

Private Equity Group is led by CEO O.J. Biugas. The company has also developed Coral Point Shopping Center, The Landings Yacht, Golf and Tennis Club in Fort Myers and others.

Biugas bought the land in 2012 in a $10 million, 5,187-acre deal from Alico Inc., which took the land back when Ginn defaulted on the property.